Queen leads UK in honouring war dead on Remembrance Sunday
LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II led the royal family, political leaders and veterans in a solemn service to honour Britain’s war dead Sunday, as Britons across the nation paused for a moment’s silent reflection to mark Remembrance Sunday.
The monarch laid the first wreath of red poppies at the foot of central London’s Cenotaph war memorial in an annual service to remember all those killed in past and present conflicts.
A hush fell over the capital as those gathered observed a two-minute silence at 11 a.m. to commemorate the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918 — when guns on the Western Front fell silent on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Remembrance Sunday is held each year on the second Sunday in November.
Later, crowds lining the streets of Whitehall cheered as some 8,500 veterans and servicemen and women marched past to music played by military bands.